Injury puts Newton out of GB plans

Newton, 26, who played in four of Britain's five matches last year, has succumbed to a hip injury which has plagued him for the last month and joins club-mate Kris Radlinski, Hull prop Paul King and St Helens loose forward Paul Sculthorpe on the sidelines.

"Terry has just carried the injury too long," said Wigan coach Ian Millward. "We've had scans on it and it's fine. It just needs time and he is not getting any time between games.

"He would have liked to play Tri-Nations but he wouldn't be able to train during the week and you've got five hard games in a row."

Newton, who won his ninth cap in the 44-4 Tri-Nations final defeat by Australia last November, was one of four hookers named in coach Brian Noble's initial 40-strong squad.

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Matt Diskin (Leeds) and Mick Higham (St Helens), who made their Test debuts against New Zealand in Hull 10 months ago, will now be vying with St Helens ace Keiron Cunningham for the first-choice hooking berth.

Newton, meanwhile, was placed on report for an alleged high tackle on Lee Gilmour in Friday night's 38-12 home defeat by St Helens and was also involved in the incident which left Sean Long with a suspected fractured cheekbone.